Sorry if this is a repost, I did a search and couldn't find anything about it. I was wondering if others have had to turn their hazard lights on when going through a car wash. My friend works at delta sonic around here and she said they make them watch videos of jeeps jumping off of the conveyor belt out of control and make all jeeps turn their hazards on because they supposedly accelerate on their own. I'm not sure how much I believe the car causes this or driver error and I think it's kind of unfair to single out jeep drivers without a formal investigation. Does anyone else know anything about this?

dr.lee.baugh

02-23-2012 04:09 PM

Re: Unintended acceleration

I do recall a number of news stories about earlier model (pre WK) grand cherokees getting a reputation for this in the mid 2000s. Haven't heard anything about it since.

Looking at the NHTSA reports, there have been 18 incidents of Grand Cherokees unintentionally accelerating at car washes over the last 10 years, including a number of fatalities.

I have no idea if that is a normal amount or not, plus once people get it in their head that it is a viable excuse the number of people reporting goes way up (look at Toyota).

I certainly wouldn't worry about it - and if a car wash makes you put your hazards on, I would do nothing more than chuckle about it...or perhaps print out a CAUTION: IT'S A JEEP THING sign to hang in the window.